First Medium Range Gun: 308 Win, or 300 WSM

I'm been reading all the very interesting posts, and have decided I need a new gun. I'd like to start out with a factory rifle and probably won't shoot past 300 yards. Generally, I like Remingtons, but I think I'd like to give the Winchester M70 Coyote a try and put a Leupold 3.5x10x50 on it. Only I can't decide if the 308 Win or the 300 WSM would be best.

I have a 45-70 that I shoot occasionally, and can handle the 420 grain bullets at 1650 fps OK, but then it starts to hurt with higher loads. So that's probably the most recoil I'd like to see.

I know the .308 is probably what I should get. Deer and wild hogs are my primary targets, but maybe someday I'll go elk hunting. But part of me wants to try this new 300 WSM, but the heavier recoil in this factory rifle makes me hesitate. I do need to practice, so I'd like something I can shoot quite a bit.

"I do need to practice, so I'd like something I can shoot quite a bit"

That says it in a nutshell. The 308 will be a bunch cheaper to shoot and there are by far more loads to choose from. Also with the right bullet and right placement the 308 will do the job on elk inside of 300 yds.
Chris

P.S. welcome aboard

__________________
Ignorance can be treated with education, sadly there is no cure for stupidity.

I second that. I have a 300 RSAUM and at some point want to convert it to the 300WSM with all the fixens but because of the reasons you just stated i just got a new 700 LTR in a 308 this past saturday. Ammo a lot cheeper if your not reloading and a much larger selection of ammo on retailers shelf and recoil much less. get the 308 practice till ya puke then have fun with the 300's if you still want more. I just did it backwards but ended up with both. will most likely use the 308 a lot more than the 300. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Either way have fun with it.

I'm really leaning towards the 308. One of my reasons for being so interested in the Winchester Coyote is that it is available with a stainless barrell and I like the look of a laminated stock. I currently have a Remington .223 varmint with synthetic stock, and it shoots very well. But Remington has so few choices to pick from these days.

If Remington had their Varmint gun in .308 with a Stainless barrel, laminated stock, and a 22" or 24" barrell, my search would be over. My .223 has the 26" barrell, and I'd really like something shorter.

For a hunting gun, is stainless really that important? If not, then the available Remington VLS in .308 (blued barrel) may be what I should get.

The Winchester Stealth is only available in blued too I think, but has the composite stock. Are laminated wood stocks really that bad compared to the synthetic stocks?

I just picked up a Tikka Varmint Stainless in .308 via Guns America classifieds (75 rounds through the from a private individual. Had it delivered to the local shop in Virginia. After reading a bunch of posts on what caliber to start shooting (other than my bow) I settled on the .308 (second choice was 30-06). Will be hunting elk, goats, lopes, whistle-pig and deer in VA, Michigan and out west with my Dad so this looks like a great all-around rifle for me.

I was trying to figure out which scope to put on it--was looking at Bushnell Elite 4200 or Nikon Monarch in the 3-14x mag range. Dealer said he couldn't match internet prices on those models, but he had a VariX-III duplex in 4-14X50 he'd let me have for $300. This is a deal yes? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]